Girth gears are critical assets on most mine sites, driving mills, kilns and dryers. Managing these assets properly is critical to avoid tail risk high impact downtime. A basic structure for managing girth gears is presented through the typical lifecycle, with an emphasis on an RCM approach to maintenance. Typical girth gear failure modes are reviewed along with how they can be prevented, and detected. A detailed example of proper management of a cracked girth gear is presented, showcasing the strategy.